On September 19, 2014, Educational Research and Development Assistance (ERDA) Foundation, Inc. marked its 40th anniversary. It was also the 100th birthday of the group’s founder, Fr. Pierre Tritz. For these two occasions, ERDA does not want to limit its plans within the non-government organization (NGO). Rather, anyone interested may look for ways to help them out.

With just around 40 employees nationwide, ERDA welcomes volunteers who would like to join their work, Joana Ramos, technical assistant at ERDA, said. Volunteers may be of any age, ethnicity, or religion.

Cecille Rodriguez, a 19-year-old student from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, is a recent ERDA volunteer. She majors in sociology, and thus applied to various NGOs for her practicum. Her interests in the field include efforts to help street children, child laborers, and children in conflict with the law (CICL).

From April to mid-May 2014, Cecille was a tutor at BK-RESToRe (Buhay Kalikasan – Revitalizing and Expanding Services towards Rehabilitation and Reintegration), ERDA’s temporary home for CICL. As a tutor, she held lectures and fun quizzes based on lesson plans she made and had approved by ERDA.

Edlyn Burgonio, ERDA communications and social media officer, said children in the BK-RESToRe have had cases related to theft (the most common), drug abuse, and other crimes. Thus, they seek help from the center on their own, are sent by their loved ones, or are referred by other groups.

Through ERDA, children have opportunities to get their lives in order. Since many have dropped out of school, the NGO offers an alternative learning system (ALS) and other activities to guide them if they would like to go back to school.

Also, Edlyn suggested that a volunteer can arrange to hold his/her birthday party as an outreach project in BK-RESToRe, as well as in TuKLASan, ERDA’s other temporary home. TuKLASan—which means Tuklas (discovery), Kalinga (care), Laruan (play), Aralan (study) at Sanayan (training)—is found at San Juan, Metro Manila. It was created for former street kids, but like BK-RESToRe, only males are admitted.

“Parang hindi siya work” (It does not feel like work), said Cecille, as she explained that those who run ERDA simply treat her like a friend. “Kaya hindi siya masyadong nakaka-stress” (So it is not really that stressful). Once in a while, she would also help with storytelling events and team building workshops. At first, she was worried that the BK-RESToRe children would be troublesome. But she found out they are generally kind and willing to learn. “Akala ko dati, wala silang pakiaalam sa pag-aaral… Minsan, makukulit pero so far, wala naman akong sobrang bad experience” (Before, I thought they did not care about their studies… Sometimes, they can be rowdy but so far, I have not had a very bad experience).

Past and present ERDA children may also volunteer. Arvin Dela Cruz, for example, was an ERDA scholar from elementary to college. Now a Children’s Desk Officer for Barangay 128 in Tondo, he talks to children who face charges on rape, family abuse, and the like. Minor cases are processed at the barangay (village), while weightier ones are passed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. In his free time, Arvin conducts theater workshops for SaBaNa (Sanayan ng mga Batang Nanambakan), a center for former child scavengers and ERDA’s other site in Tondo.

Besides going to BK-RESToRe, TuKLASan, or SaBaNa, a volunteer can help ERDA with its development of learning materials. Through an effort called AKLAtan (named after the Filipino word for library), the NGO regularly publishes children’s books, which are then made into videos. These often feature lessons on human rights and other social issues.

ERDA hopes to partner with more groups that share their values. For instance, their ABK3 LEAP (Livelihoods, Education, Advocacy and Protection to Reduce Child Labor in Sugarcane Areas) has the support of World Vision Development Foundation, Inc., among others. The program is carried out in Capiz, Iloilo, Leyte, and other local areas with a bustling sugar industry.

For foreigners who wish to get involved, ERDA is linked with some NGOs around Europe, like Les Amis des Enfants du Monde (The Friends of the Kids of the World) in France.

“Para sa ERDA, isa lang naman ang pinagdadasal ko lagi—yung humaba pa yung buhay nila” (For ERDA, there is only one thing I always pray for—that its lifespan grows even longer), Arvin said.

ERDA’s main office is at 66 Linaw St., Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City, Philippines. To learn more, go to www.erdafoundation.wordpress.com.

Gianna Villavicencio graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2011. After that, she worked at BusinessWorld Publishing Corp. for about two and a half years. She currently lives in the US.